Rowaphos and phosban reactor?

[Dakota]

ok have the phosban reactor set up in my sump i added the rowaphos as directed and have a valve in line to control water flow. i did the suggeted flow which if memory serves right it was to have a flow were the media in tumbling gently on top? i did this and about 2 weeks into the running of this water seemed to be only flowing threw a small area on the side oif the reactor. when i took the reactor apart i confirmed that water was only flowing there 1 side of reactor the media was stuck together like cement expect 1 section . if i run more flow it blows the media out of the reactor. oh what to do any ideas thanks.

[Travis]

What size pump are you running on it?

[Dakota]

oh its a little pump something like 200 gph but i have it throttled back with valve to get the right flow gently tumbling of media on top. i can add more flow but it seems to start blowing it to hard. also how do u guys rinse this stuff it drops alot of fine red of it .

[Travis]

Try upping the pump and cutting back on the inlet valve maybe? Did you let the media dry out and then re-use it?

Rinsing- I use a filter sock and some tank water from a water change and dunk it in there several times.

[NaH2O]

Dakota - I have a maxijet 600 on mine that I dialed back. How much of the ROWAphos did you put in the reactor? On mine I rinse it doing a water change....let the water run into a bucket until it is clear. I also stick a filter sock on the end of the effluent line, just in case any of the dusting comes out. I notice mine gets hard after it has been on about 3 months, that is one of the ways I can tell it is ready to change. How bad are your phosphates?

[Dakota]

havent tested phos but i know they are not bad i dont have any algea blooms goi9ng or anything . i always use ro/di for water changes and top off .. no i didnt let the rowphos get dry it was moist when i put it into reactor . also i put in about 1/3 of 500 ml package of rowaphos actually little less only filled the reractor a few inches up like 3 inches if memory is correct. just using as long term maintence for phosphate just dont want to have problems thats all. like the idea of rinsing as u do water change have 1 coming up on friday ill try it then thanks guys.

[mps9506]

Dakota,
Following the advice of David Saxaby here...
I was informed Rowaphos, if used in a reacotr, needs to be rinsed very well to get rid of the small particles. If used passively then just dunk it in the sump.
what size tank are you running this on?
I personally use phosban, and haven't used rowa, as phosban is easier for me to get. But, I found in my tank I use about a tablespoon of the stuff, and noticed a difference.
I don't think you need much for it to be effective. IMO, use less, change it out every couple of months and you should be good.
I think you just need to rinse it better before using it, Get all the small particles out so you can get a nice flow through the reactor without small peices flowing out the other end.

[Brucey]

Dak. . . . . just a quick note that I've seen on another BB, although I run rowaphos in my FR509 and have never had the problem you've encountered. I've read somewhere that if your Kalk drip is too close to the Rowaphos canister or if your dosing too much kalk, it can cause it to clump. Sorry, this is not personal experiece, just something i've read and heard from a few sources. PS, I use a maxijet 1200
Brucey